Protectograph.



No. 898,639. PATENTBD AUG. 18, 1908.

' J. HUIZBNGA.

PROTBGTOGRAPH. 9 APPLIOATION FILED APB.. 29, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 896,639.V PAIENTED AUG. l18, '1903.1

J. HUIZENGA. PROTEGTOGRAPH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1907.

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le; 26 li n Erneya .TOI-IN HUIZENGA, OF ROCK VALLEY, IOWA.

PROTECTOGRAPI-I.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

Application filed April 29, 1907. Serial No. 370,768.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Jol-IN HUIZENGA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Valley, in the county of Sioux and State of lowa, have invented a certain new and useful Frotectograph, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, designed to quickly and conveniently print upon checks and drafts, or the like, the numerals representing the value of the instrument, and also to print vertical lines at the beginning of the number printed and at the division between the dollars and cents of said number, said lines to extend a considerable distance abo-ve and below the number, to thereby prevent raising the check or draft by adding new numerals, or by altering the division line between the dollars and cents.

A further object is to provide a device of this kind in which the figures and lines printed upon a check or draft will be raised or embossed upon the check or draft so that altering the numbers by means of a pen will be impossible without making the alterations readily observable.

A further object is to provide a device of this kind in which the check or draft is automatically advanced after each numeral is printed, so that the numerals are accurately and numerically spaced apart.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a top or plan view of a complete device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of same. Fig. 3 shows a detail sectional view illustrating one of the inking rollers. Fig. 4 shows a portion of a check or draft having numerals and vertical lines marked thereon, in the manner in which they would be printed by the use of my improved device. Fig. 5 shows a vertical longitudinal central sectional view of a complete device embodying my invention. Fig. 6 shows a horizontal sectional view of same on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 shows a detail view illustrating the check or draft advancing rollers', and Fig. 8 shows a detail sectional view of a part of the rotating printing base, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, l have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate the casing formed with a circular top portion 11, and a flat table top 12 at the front of the casing. Arranged concentrically within the circular portion of the casing is an upright rotatable shaft 13, having' an operating lever 14 fixed thereto. This lever is preferably made of spring metal and is capable of slight up and down movement. On the outer end of the lever is a handle 15, and below the lever is a rounded projection 16. Formed in the top of the circular portion 11 is a series of round notches 17 to receive the projection 16. Arranged adjacent of these rounded notches are the numerals and dollar and cents marks, which are so arranged that when the rounded projection 16 is resting in any of the notches 17, the printing type hereinafter described corresponding to the notch in which the handle is resting, will be arranged in printing position. Mounted upon the shaft 13 is a rotating printing base 18, which is circular in form, and provided with notches 19 in its periphery. Its top is arranged flush with the top of the part 12, and formed on its top surface is a series of depressed numerals and lines corresponding with the .same types on the printing arms hereinafter described.

l have formed an opening at 20 so that a check or draft placed upon the part 12 may freely enter and rest upon the printing base 18.

Mounted upon the shaft 13 above the printing base, is a collar 21 to which are pivoted a series of type bearing arms 22. Each of these arms is provided with an upwardly curved portion 23, for purposes hereinafter made clear, and on its outer end is a type plate having the raised type thereon. Two of the arms 22 are provided with type to print long straight lines, one to be used as a substitute for a dollar mark, and the other to be used as a substitute for a decimal point between the dollar and cents. The one that is intended to be used as a substitute for a dollar mark has its printing line arranged farther from the center of the shaft 11, than the printing line of the one that is to be used as a decimal point. This arrangement is clearly shown in Fig. 5, and its advantages will be set forth hereinafter more fully. To each of the arms 22 I have attached a spring 24, the upper end of which is attached to the Vcollar 25 on the shaft 13, to normally hold the arms 22 in their elevated positions, as shown in Fig. 5.

For operating the type bearing arms I have provided a shaft 26, having a crank arm 27 thereon, to be grasped by the operator, and also having at its central portion an arm 28, which arm has on its lower end two guide lugs 29, said guide lugs being so arranged as to engage one of the type bearing arms 22 between them, and thus accurately center the type bearing arm relative to the arm 28. The lower end of the arm 28 vwhen depressed will engage the rounded portion 23 of the type bearing arm, and thus move it downwardly to printing position more quickly on account of the curved portion 23. The movement of this arm 28 is clearly shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. For returning the arm 28 to normal position after being depressed, I have provided an arm 30 on the shaft 26, to which is attached a spring 31, the other end thereof being attached to a lug 32 on the main frame.

In order that the depressed type on the printing base 18 may be held accurately in line with the type on the type bearing arms 22, I have fixed to the shaft 26 an arm 33, having a downwardly projecting link 34, pivoted to its outer end. The lower end of the link 34 is pivoted to a lever 35, fulcrumed on the pivot 36. rI'hese parts are so arranged that if the crank 27 is depressed at the time that the printing base 18 is in its proper position, then the link 34 will enter the corresponding notch 19, but if the printing base is not in proper position, then the link 34 will strike against the edge of the printing base, and prevent an operative movement o-f the type bearing arms.

I have provided for advancing the check or draft one type space during each depression of tl ic operating crank 27, as follows: Mounted above the tabletop 12 is a loose roller 37, and beneath the said roller is a coacting roller 38 mounted on a shaft 39, which projects through a slot 40 in the frame to permit it to move up and down. The roller 38 also eX- tends through a slot in the part 12 so that it may engage the roller 37. The roller 38 is yieldingly held upwardly by means of the spring 41. Fixed to the roller shaft 39 is a ratchet wheel 42, to be'engaged by a spring actuated pawl 43 carried by the lever 35, hence during each movement of the operating crank 27, the pawl will move over one of the ratchet teeth, and when the operating crank 27 is released, the spring 31 will operate the lever 35 in such manner as to move the roller 38 one tooth space, thus advancing the check or draft inserted between the rollers one type space. A

I have provided for inking the type upon the type bearing arms 22 as follows: Mounted upon the interior of the frame adjacent to the front thereof, are two inking rollers 44, each arranged upon a shaft 45, which is normally held upwardly by means of the spring 46, the rollers are arranged in the path of the type bearing arms, when said arms are in their normal position, hence as the type bearing arms are rotated around within the casing, they will come in contact with either one or the other of the inking rollers 44, and thus always be supplied with fresh ink for printing upon the check or draft. In order y to quickly and easily place a check or draft upon the table top 12 in such position that the printing will be accurately arranged on the proper line on the check or draft, I have provided an indicator finger 47 to project down in front of the opening in the casing, through which the check or draft is inserted, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. This indicator finger is arranged in line with the printing point of the machine, and the operator may by inserting a check in printing position readily and easily move the check to position where .the printing will take place exactly on a line on the check, if said line on the check is placed at the lower end of the indicator finger.

' In practical use, I place a check or draft upon the table top 12, and insert it between the rollers by depressing the shaft of the lower roller. I then move the check or draft to position where the line on the check or draft on which the printing is to be done, is directly under the indicator finger 47. I then move the handle 15 to position over the dollar mark on top of the casing, as shown in Fig. 1. I then depress the operating crank 27 thus causing the arm 28 to be de- L pressed, and a straight line running transversely of the check to be printed instead of the dollar mark in front of the row of numerals to be printed. I then successively move the handle 15 and depress the lever 27 for each of the other numerals to be placed. on the check or draft. Then before the numerals indicating cents are placed on the check or draft, I print the line to be used in the place of a decimal point, and finish by printing the numerals indicating the cents. After each depression of a type bearing arm, the check or draft will be automatically advanced one type space, so that the numerals will be accurately spaced apart on the check or draft. By having the line indicating dollars so arranged that it will print close to the numeral following it, and by having the line indicating cents so arranged that it will print close to the last numeral indicating dollars, I therefore protect the check or draft against being raised, or at least the numerals that indicate dollars cannot easily be erased and new ones substituted, because the straight vertical lines would be rubbed out the top of said numerals and the lines for the insertion of additional numerals.

Another advantage obtained by the use of my improved machine, is that the check or draft is securely held between the rollers, and l the printing base 18 may freely rotate under it without danger of moving it, and when the type bearing arms are depressed, the link 34 will lock the base in position, and the guide 29 on the arm 28 will hold the type bearing arms 22 in position so that the type on the type bearing arms and the coacting type on the printing base will also coincide. An operator after a comparatively small amount of practice will be enabled to quickly and accurately print upon checks and drafts with great rapidity, for the reason that the handle 15 may be grasped in one hand, and the crank 27 in the other, and the printing may be done as rapidly as the operator can move the handle 1.5 from one of the notches 17 to the other. The checks or drafts may quickly and easily be placed-in and removed from the machine, because thc lower roller 3S may be depressed to permit this movement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, therefor, is-

1. In a device of the class described, comprising a casing, an upright shaft rotatably mounted in the casing, a series of type bearing arms carried by said shaft, an arm fixed to the shaft above the casing for turning the shaft, a printing base fixed to the shaft, and formed with notches in its periphery, a crank shaft mounted in the casing, an arm thereon designed to engage the type bearing arms, and force them into printing position, a crank arm fixed to the crank shaft, a bar pivoted to the latter crank arm and extended downwardly below the printing base and designed to engage an adjacent notch in the printing base when the crank shaft is operated to bring a printing arm to printing position, a paper feeding device, and means operated by said bar for advancing the paper feeding device upon an upward movement of the bar.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a casing having a table to thereon, and an opening adjacent to the table top for the insertion of paper, an upright shaft rotatably mounted in the casing, a printing base fixed thereto, said base being formed with notches in its periphery, and in line with the table top, a series of type bearing arms mounted on the upright shaft, springs for normally holding them elevated, a crank shaft extended through the casing, an arm on the crank shaft designed to engage a type bearing arm and move it to printing position, an arm fixed to the said" crank shaft, a bar pivoted to said arm and extended downwardly below the printing base and designed to enter a notch in the printing base when the crank shaft is operated to move a type bearing arm to printing position, a roller extended transversely across the table top in front of the paper opening thereof, a lever fulcrumed beneath the printing base, a spring actuated pawl mounted on one end thereof to engage said ratchet wheel, the other end of said lever b'eing pivoted to the said bar.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a casing having a table top thereon, and an opening adjacent to the table top for the insertion of paper, an upright shaft rotatably mounted in the casing, a printing base fixed thereto, said base being formed with notches in its periphery and in line with the table top, a series of type bearing arms mounted on the upright shaft, springs for normally holding them elevated, a crank shaft extended through the casing, an arm on the crank shaft designed to engage a type bearing arm and move it to printing position, an arm fixed to the said crank shaft, a bar pivoted to said arm and extended downwardly below the printing base and designed to enter a notch in the printing base when the crank shaft is operated to move a type bearing arm to printing position, a roller extended transversely across the table top in front of the paper opening thereof, a lever fulcrumed beneath the printing base, a spring actuated pawl mounted on one end thereof to engage said ratchet wheel, the other end of said lever being pivoted to the said bar, and a yielding pressure device for holding said roller in an elevated position, and a roller supported above the aforesaid roller.

Des Moines, Iowa, April 12, 1907.

JOHN I-IUIZENGA.

Witnesses:

I. S. LARGE, DELKo BLOEM. 

